CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Got a question about the Cavs? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heymary and beat writer Mary Schmitt Boyer will choose at least one to answer each week.

Hey, Mary: Was Coach Krzyzewski talking about the same Kyrie Irving we watch on the Cavs as they continue on a 30-win pace? Krzyzewski said of Irving, "He has special mental and people talent.'' Clearly, Kyrie's leadership is a slow work in progress. So is playing defense. D.J. Augustin lit up the Cavs for 27 in the Bulls' win. Maybe Deng can corral Irving and turn this season around? -- Tim Corbett, Ladera Ranch, Calif.

Hey, Tim: Irving has skills. There's no doubt about that. He also needs to improve on the two fronts you mentioned -- defense and leadership. But he's only 21. As Krzyzewski pointed out, he'd be a senior in college this year had he stayed. Leadership doesn't always come naturally to players that young. I do think Deng, an excellent defender and leader, will be a great role model. Whereas Irving may grow into the sort of leader the Cavs need, he could make more of a commitment to defense right now.

Hey, Mary: Do the Cavs practice? Looking at their current roster they have a good amount of talent, but they look like a pick-up team at the park. Is Dan Gilbert happy with their current progression? Also, are any of the players on the team friends off the court? They don't appear to have any camaraderie when games get tight. -- Justin Martin, Chicago

Hey, Justin: No one is happy with the way the Cavs are playing. In spite of plenty of practice time, they continue to be inconsistent and make a lot of unforced errors, especially late in games. I don't really know who pals around together off the court, but they seem to enjoy each other's company enough when we see them in the locker room or on the court at the end of practice. Way too often, though, they try to outscore their opponents instead of stop them defensively. That's a mindset that has to change.

Hey, Mary: What's the word on Dion Waiters? Do you think he is that much of a disruptive force in the locker room and will he get traded or will a trade be made for a better outside shooter? -- Ric McElroy, Travelers Rest, S.C.

Hey, Ric: I would not characterize Waiters as disruptive. He can be moody when things are not going well, but given how things are going, that might be understandable. I think there are 29 teams that would be interested in acquiring someone who can score like he does, which is why I think the Cavs will hold onto him unless they get an amazing offer.

Hey, Mary: While I love Tristan Thompson's work ethic and motor, he seems to always get bullied by the elite power forwards (David West, Carlos Boozer, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh, etc.). Those are the players that we will see in the playoffs if we ever get there. While he seems to get better every year, one thing won't change and that's his height and body type. So is Thompson a starting power forward on a elite NBA team or just a good reserve? -- Chris Taylor, Columbus

Hey, Chris: You named some of the best power forwards in the NBA, and Thompson is not in their league. He would not start on any of their teams. He's young. He's willing to work to get better, and I think he will, though it remains to be seen if he can reach the level of the players you mentioned.

Hey, Mary: The Feb. 20 trade deadline is coming up. Do you expect the Cavs to be buyers, sellers or stand pat? With Luol Deng being a free agent after this season, do you think they have a realistic chance of re-signing him? Also, I think the possible free agent that Gilbert and all fans really want to end up signing with Cleveland is none other than King James. As you know he can opt out of his contract with the Heat after this season. Do the Cavs have a chance in the world to re-sign him? Also, do you expect James to opt out of his contract? If so, which teams including the Heat would have the best chance of signing him? -- Jeff, Saint Johns, Mich.

Hey, Mary: Looking at the salary cap, it looks like the Cavs would have to make room on the salary cap if you-know-who decided to come back, assuming they give Deng an extension. Do you know of any current buy-out options with players who have contracts that go beyond this year? If not, how would they make room for James and sign Deng? -- Jericho James, Wooster

Hey, Jeff and Jericho: History tells us the Cavs will be active at the trading deadline, especially if the team doesn't show some significant improvement soon. They have not given up on their goal of making the playoffs, but it's unclear if this team, as constituted, can achieve that. As far as the future, they could sign Deng and have room for another max free agent. I have no idea if that will be James -- and I'm quite sure James hasn't made up his mind, either. The latest theory is that James will not opt out this summer but will finish his contract in Miami and become a free agent in the summer of 2015. If he ever wanted to come back, Cavs GM Chris Grant has done a good job of structuring contracts so the team would have payroll room. In addition, Dan Gilbert has shown a willingness to spend the money to make this team better.

Hey, Mary: With Jared Sullinger crushing it while Tyler Zeller does little, and Anthony Bennett not even playing while Victor Oladipo lights it up, isn't it time to start questioning Chris Grant's credentials as GM? -- Greg Schwartz, San Diego

Hey, Greg: It's no secret Grant has had more success with trades than draft choices, but I don't think you can question his credentials. You can question his choices, but he's more than qualified to be in the position he holds. After all, this is the guy who just turned Andrew Bynum -- a guy the Cavs were about to waive -- into All-Star Luol Deng.

Hey, Mary: When he was in L.A., Mike Brown introduced a Princeton offense. However, as someone who doesn't know a lot about the technical side of basketball, I'm curious if this is what he's currently using. I feel as though at the start of the season, with someone like Andrew Bynum, this might not have been a good choice. However, subtract Bynum and add a mobile small forward like Luol Deng, and it might be a much better option. Am I right? -- Matt White, Columbiana, OH

Hey, Matt: Byron Scott famously brought the Princeton offense with him to Cleveland and was never able to implement it. I don't think that's the answer. I think if the Cavs consistently ran the up-tempo offense Brown wants them to run, they'd be fine. The problem is, they don't.

Hey, Mary: Can you have owner/players in the NBA? Can Dan Gilbert offer LeBron James a minority interest as his financial incentive to re-join the Cavs and maintain a long-term relationship with the team? -- Bill Maclee, Wilmington, N.C.

Hey, Mary: Can you explain the divide between the common fans who think Mike Brown is the worst coach in sports and the beat writers, reporters and columnists (apologists) who think he is a great coach who needs more time? It is so apparent how bad Brown is (perfect examples are the numerous failed attempts at simply inbounding the ball) it is almost lunacy to think otherwise. I guess Dan Gilbert not wanting to look like a complete fool for hiring him is understandable, but the media's love affair is baffling. Maybe Stockholm Syndrome? Can you explain? -- Eliot Clasen, Cape Coral, Fla.

Hey, Eliot: We haven't been taken hostage, but I think those of us around the team every day realize that the players don't always do what Brown tells them to. I'm not suggesting he's Red Auerbach. But if he tells his players not to switch on defense and they switch, resulting in a wide-open shot for an opponent, I don't think that makes him a bad coach. If Earl Clark steps out of bounds before attempting a game-tying shot, I don't think that makes Mike Brown a bad coach.

Obviously, if they're not listening to him at all, that's another kind of problem. But his offense and defense at the Lakers and at Denver -- two victories -- was the same as it was at Sacramento -- monumental loss. The biggest problem this season is their inconsistent attitude and approach on both ends of the floor.

Hey, Mary: Luol Deng has shown leadership on the court, in the huddle at timeouts and in the locker room. Do you think some day he might be a player/coach like Lenny Wilkens was? -- Ron Jackson, Parma

Hey, Ron: I don't think there will be any more player/coaches in the NBA. But I think if Deng decides he wants to be a coach, there will be a long list of teams lining up to hire him.

Hey, Mary: I heard reports of the Cavs holding a post-game practice after the loss to the Portland Trailblazers. Any information on who called the practice and who participated? -- Anthony, Cleveland

Hey, Anthony: I wrote about this during the road trip. Jarrett Jack led the charge, and teammates C.J. Miles, Alonzo Gee and Earl Clark worked out for about an hour. It was partly because of how the Cavs lost and partly because they were not scheduled to practice the next day and the players wanted to get in some extra work.

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